Nairobi has erupted into chaos as angry Kenyans protest harsh new taxes and an eco-austerity program, leading to the burning of the parliament building. Lawmakers escaped through a tunnel after voting to pass the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which raises prices on essential goods like diapers and electronics. The situation turned violent, with police using live fire and tear gas, resulting in deaths and injuries. President William Ruto, currently out of the city, praised the youth’s enthusiasm, but the violence continues amid reports of abductions by security forces. The crisis reflects a broader pattern of international economic pressure causing local unrest.
Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, has degenerated into violence and mayhem as Kenyans incensed by new tax policies and the government’s harsh ‘Eco-Austerity’ program have set fire to the parliament building.
Legislators are fleeing after the anti-tax demonstrators first entered parliament. They swiftly overpowered police after MPs voted to support a measure introducing new national levies, including an eco-levy that raises the price of basic commodities like diapers, as part of attempts to reduce waste and become more environmentally friendly.
Kenya’s Finance Bill 2024 contains the new taxes, which have a direct impact on imports, prices, and sales of diapers, batteries/dry cells, smartphones, earphones, clocks, radios, TV sets, cameras, staplers, printers, calculators, photocopying machines, keyboards, mice, projectors, and LCD monitors.
The rigorous Eco Levy has a significant influence on those planning to import plastics into the Kenyan market, imposing a high price per kg on the products.
While entering parliament, protesters chanted, “We’re coming for every politician.” There are widespread reports that police have begun to use live fire against the crowds, in addition to riot control methods such as tear gas.
President William Ruto is currently attending an African Union event outside of the capital, although he has attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, applauding the enthusiasm of the youth, who are mostly responsible for the demonstrations.
However, the increasingly violent clashes with police on Nairobi’s streets, which began last week with the deaths of two people, are also the result of claimed security agency abductions. The Associated Press reports:
The Kenya Law Society President Faith Odhiambo said Tuesday that 50 Kenyans, including her personal assistant, had been “abducted” by people believed to be police officers.
Some of those missing included those who were vocal in the demonstrations and were taken away from their homes, workplaces and public spaces ahead of Tuesday’s protests, according to civil society groups.
According to an initial report published by AP, at least eight individuals have been murdered. The Kenya Human Rights Commission has also stated that police are “firing live rounds” at demonstrators.
Dozens more people have been hurt, and the casualty count is expected to grow throughout the day and evening as the situation continues.
Lawmakers left the burning and occupied parliament building uninjured via a tunnel.
Protesters have recorded themselves occupying the parliament building, which is presently empty of lawmakers and personnel.
Unfortunately, all of this is part of a known and historical pattern in Africa. The so-called international community and powerful global/Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) routinely persuade governments to incur massive debts before imposing draconian societal reform policies on the populace from abroad.
In the process of exchanging billions of dollars, dishonest local government officials stuff their wallets while inflicting harsh and unexpected measures on the lower classes and underprivileged citizens.
The following lines about the Kenya problem appear straight out of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man… “The stringent Eco Levy aims to enhance existing weaker and less effective waste and pollution control mechanisms, such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations that Kenya embraced two years ago. The EPR is a comprehensive global framework designed to hold manufacturers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their plastic and electronic products.”
Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has declared a state of emergency to quell deadly riots in New Caledonia, which erupted following a vote in the National Assembly of France allowing those who have lived in New Caledonia for ten years to vote in provincial elections.